Compound rotary engine.



No. 646,l60. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

A. WATKINS.

GOMPUUND ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1898.)

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheef I.

N o. B 46,l6 0. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

A. WATKINS.

COMPOUND ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed. Non-21, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W a II II Mbfil m mm PR 'i' 'l' NORRIS PETERS 00.. Pnmuu'mq, WASHINGTON, c.

No. 646,|60. Patented Mar. 27, I900. A. WATKINS.

COMPOUND ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 T uoamsPETERS co, "momma, ms mufnu o r No. 646,|60. Patented Mar. 27, I900.

- A. WATKINS.

COMPOUND ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1898.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

; @JM ZZM m: uonms PETERS ca. PnbYo-umc WASHINGTON. o, c

No. 646,l60. Patented Mar. 27, 1900.

A." WATKINS.

GUMPOUND ROTARY ENGINE.

(Application filed Nov. 21, 1898.) (No Modal.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

THE Nnnms PETERS 00.. Puoroumo wAsumm-nm n. c.

' i m STATES PATEN Fries.

ALFRED WATKINS, or DES MOINES, IOWA- COMPOUND ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 646,160, dated March27, 1900.

Application filed November 21, 1893. Serial No. 697,113. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ALFRED WATKINS, a oiti zen of the United States,residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, haveinvented a new and useful Compound Rotary Engine, of'which the followingis a specification.

My main object is to provide-a compound rotary steam-engine adapted toutilize all the.

expansive force of steam, and thereby .increase the maximum forceobtained from cylinders of any given size, as required to reduce theminimum cost of'steam-power.

A further object is to utilize steam to prevent the cooling andcondensation of steam in the cylinders, as required to prolong theexpansive force of steam and its utility as it passes through theengine.

A further object is to adapt an engine in form and size to beadvantageously used for all the various purposes of a stationary'engine,for locomotives, and marine vessels.

A further object is to use the initial force of steam in distinctsteam-chambers and upon a number of distinct pistons simultaneously toincrease the power of the complete engine at the will of the operator.

A further object is to provide circular chamsage of steam relative todifferent steam-chambers and the two concentric cylinders,to therebyreduce the force, friction, and wear required to actuate the operatingmechanism.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement,.and combinationof operative parts with two cylinders joined end to endand in concentricposition with one and the main shaft, as hereinafter set forth, pointed.out in my claims, and illustrated in the acof the rotary gates.

to open and close steam passage-ways leading from the supply-pipe andthrough inter mediate chambers to the exhaust-pipe. Means for reversingthe engine is also shown in this figure. Fig. 4 is a transversesectional view of the casing or two eccentric cylinders con nected attheir inner ends. Dotted lines indicate the steam passage wayscommunicating with the valves and the chambers for the rotary gates.Fig. 5 is an outside face View of one end of the engine, showing theyielding or cushioned ball-bearings of the shafts Fig. 6 is a view ofone of the rotary valves used for regulating the passage of steam andreversing the engine. Fig. 7 is a side view,- and Fig.8 an end View, ofone of the auxiliary rotary gates.

The numeral 10 designates the casing and outer wall of the twocylinders, connected at their inner ends and in concentric position witheach other. A partition 11 is preferably formed integral with the wall10. Caps or heads 12 and 13 are fixed to the ends of the wall.

lt and 15 are the two distinct cylinders.

16 and 16-; are circular chambers of uniform size and shape thatintersect the cylinders and are designed to receive rotary gates. bersand rotary gates for regulating the pas- 17 and 17 are auxiliarysteam-chambers in the wall of the case, communicating with the cylinder14, and 18 and 18% are correspond-- ing chambers communicating with thecylinder 15.

The main shaft 19 extends through bear ings in the centers of the heads12 and 13, and hubs 20 and 20; in the cylinders are fixed to the shaft,and each hub has two pistons 21 and 213-, provided with suitable packingon their ends adapted to engage the inner faces of the cylinders withwhich they come in contact. In each circular chamber 16 and 16}- isfitted a rotary gate (all uniform in size and shape) foropening andclosing steam passage-ways that communicate therewith, and 23 and 24:are shafts in hearings in the heads 12 and 13 and extend through thecenters of the chambers 16 and 16% to operate the rotary gates 22 and22}, that are fixed to said shafts. These shafts are connected with themain shaft by means of gear-wheels of uniform size,as clearly shown inFig. 3 and as required to rotate in concert-with the main shaft 19.Rotarygates 25 and 25%, of uniform size and corresponding in shape withthe gates 22 and 225, are fitted in corresponding bores that extend intothe end portions of the walls of the cylinder 14. These gates also havefixed gear-wheels on the outer ends of their shafts 26 and 27 to engagethe mating gear-wheels fixed to the rotary gates 22 and 221, as requiredto actuate them to open and close the steam passageways that communicatebetween the two cylinders, as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and Aand A are rotary plug-valves fitted in bores at the lateral extensionsof the case and cylinder 14:. Each valve has an arm 28 connected with alever 29 (fnlcrumed to the case, as shown in Fig. 3) by means of rods 30in such a manner that the valves can be readily actuated by means ofthelever as required to reverse the engine. A duplicate of thisreversing mechanism is provided for the cylinder 15. The rotary valvestherefor are clearly shown in Fig. 4.

B is a forked pipe fixed to the case to coinmunicate with bores leadingto the rotary valve A, as required to introduce steam to the chamber 16and the cylinder 14 through passage-ways that extend through the casingfrom the valve A to the chamber 16, that intersects the cylinder 14 andthe rotary gate 22 in the chamber 16. The said passage-ways areindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8. From the cylinder 14 passagewaysextend through cylinder-casing and pipe 0 as shown by arrow, into largesteam-chamber 18, and in re versing goes through cylinder-casin g andpipe 0 into large steam-chamber 18 1;.

B and B are elbow-shaped pipes connected with the pipe 13, and each isprovided with a valve B.

B and 13 are pipes extending from the pipes B and B to boresintersecting the steam-chambers 18 and 18-3 that communicate with thecylinder 15, as required to allow steam to pass through direct from thepipe B through the pipes B and B Itis obvious that by opening the valves13 steam can pass through the several passages to the distinct chambersat the same time as required to utilize the initial steam force upon aplurality of distinct pistons simultaneously.

0 is a pipe that is connected with the rotary valve A, as required toconduct last exhaust-steam from cylinder 11 into steamchamber 18.

C is a corresponding pipe for conducting steam when reversed from thevalve A into the chamber 18?}.

A and A are rotary valves that communicate with rotary gates in chambersthat intersect the cylinder 15 in the same manner as the chambers 16 and16*} intersect the cylinderll. Exhaust-pipes D, D D and D communicatewith the valves A and A and the cylinder 15.

The shafts 23 and 24, that carry rotary gates 25 at their end portions,are jourualed in yielding bearings that allow the peripheries of thegates to come in contact with the hub and the surfaces of the concavesin the gates that are engaged by the pistons 21 without producing unduefriction and on the peripheries of the rotary gates. Angular frames Hare formed on or fixed to the outside faces of the heads 11 and 15, asshown in Fig. 5, and bearings J, fitted in the same frames in such amanner that they can slide outward or away relative to the rotatinghub20. Springs m, placed in the frames, engage the bearings J and normallypress them toward the shafts 23 and 24. Annular grooves in the shaftsare fitted with balls to reduce friction. It is obvious that the shaftsthus provided with yielding bearings, packing, or cushioning on thesurfaces of the rotary gates can be dispensed with, so that their facesthat come in contact with the walls of the chambers will be relievedfrom undue friction and wear.

In the practical operation of my invention when steam enters the enginethrough the pipe B and valve A and the passage-way leading from thevalve into one of the chambers 16 it will first enter one of theconcaves in the rotary valve 22 in that chamber and press the piston 21in the direction indicated by the arrows in the cylinder 11, as shown inFig. 3, and press upon one of the pistons 21. After the piston hasadvanced one-sixth part of the circumference of the cylinder and towardthe chamber 16 the supply of steam will be cut off by the simultaneousmotion of the said rotary gate 22 in the said chamber 16. About half ofthe steam then confined in the cylinder between the piston 21 andchamber 16 and gate 22% will pass through the passages leading from thecylinder to the rotary gate and from thence into the chamber 17 in thewall of the cylinder 14. The motion of the pistons being continued atthe same time until the hub 20 and shaft 10 have made aquarter-revolution, about half of the remaining steam passes into thechamber 18 through gate 25, as shown by dotted lines F The rotary gatesbeing properly connected with the main shaft 19 by means of gearwheels,as shown in Fig. 3, itis obvious they will move in concert therewith, sothat the rotary gates 22 221], and 25 25 will be actuated at properintervals, as required to open and close the steam passage-wayscommunieating with the gates and the distinct chambers through which thesteam is passed. The steam which has passed into steam-chamber 17 fromcylinder 14 now passes through opening marked by dotted lines, followingthe arrows through rotary valve A entering chamber 16%- nearsteam-chamber 17-17, thence forcing piston 21%; in direction of arrow,as shown in cylinder 11. Meanwhile the initial steam is entering againinto chamber 16 and forcing pistons, as before. The steam from chamber17 after forcing the pistons onefourth of circumference of cylinderone-half of steam exhausts through gate 25 near steamchamber 17% intosteam-chamber 18% in walls of large cylinder. The remaining steam isforced by next piston through passageways and rotary valve A, pipe Binto chamber 18%- with minimum of resistance of exhaust-steam. Thesteam-chambers l7 and 17% will receive exhaust-steam throughpassage-ways, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The steam nowwhich has been used in cylinder 14 and conveyed to steam-chambers 18 and18% will pass from there to cylinder 15, forcing piston around, as shownin cylinder 14, and finally exhausting through D and D in Fig. 2 inforward motion and through D and D in reverse motion. It is obvious thatsteam thus admitted through the pipe B at one end of the engine willrepeatedly set upon the pistons 21 and 21% in each of the cylinders 14and 15. Steam in passing from the cylinders and through the chambers 16and 17 in their walls shows that practically all the expansive force ofthe steam will be utilized in jointly operating the pistons in the twodistinct cylinders to transmit and concentrate power to rotate the mainshaft 19.

Reversing the position of the lever 29 will reverse the motion of theengine and steam will pass through the passages leading from the Valve Ato the chambers 17% and 18% and finally exhaust through the pipes D andD in place of D and D Chamber 17 becomes void in reverse motionrandchamber 17% is void in forward motion.

Having thus described the construction and function of each element andsubcombination, what I claim as new, and desire to secating with thesegmental'chambers passages for steam leading from the exterior of thecase into the circular chambers and means for regulating the flow ofsteam through said passage to operate upon a rotary hub and pistons inthe cylinder in the manner set forth for the purposes stated.

2. In a rotary engine, two concentric cylinders, a main shaft journaledin the ends of the cylinders, a hub having radial extending pistonsfixed to the shaft in each cylinder two circular chambers intersectingeach cylinder, two segmental chambers in the wall of each cylinder,steam passage-Ways leading from the cylinder to the ends of saidsegmental chambers steam passage-ways leading from the end of eachsegmental chamber to a cylinder, and passage-ways leading from theexterior into the circular chambers, to operate in the manner set forthfor the purposes stated.

3. In a rotary engine, two concentric cylinders, a main shaft journaledin the end of the cylinders, a hub having radial extending pistonsfixedto the shaft in each cylinder, two

circular chambers intersecting each cylinder, two segmental chambers inthe wall of each cylinder, steam passage-ways leading from the end ofeach segmental chamber to a circular chamber, and passage-ways leadingfrom the exterior into the circular chambers, rotary valves in saidpassages and means for automatically operating the valves in concertwith rotary hubs and pistons in the cylinders to operate in the mannerset forth for the purposes stated.

4. In a steam-engine, a cylinder-casin g having a forked pipe Bcommunicating with two parallel passages leading to a rotary plugvalve Afitted in a bore that intersects said parallel passages, acylinder-chamber communicating with said valve, a circular chamberintersecting the cylinder-chamber, a rotary gate in the circularchamber, and two segmental chambers in the wall of the cylindercommunicating at each end with the cylinder-chambers and means forregulating the passage of steam between the segmental chambers and thecylinder-chamber arranged and combined to operate in the manner setforth.

5. In a steam-engine, a cylinder-casin g having a forked pipe Bcommunicating with two parallel passages leading to a rotary plugvalve Afitted in a bore that intersects said parallel passages, acylinder-chamber communicatin g with said Valve a circular chamberintersecting the cylinder-chamber, arotary gate in the circular chamberand two segmental chambers in the wall of the cylinder communicating ateach end with the cylinder-chambers and means for regulating the passageof steam between the segmental chambers and the cylinder-chambera'rotary gate having concaves in its periphery fitted in each of thepassage-ways leading from the cylinder-chamber to the segmental chambersin the wall of the cylinder arranged and combined to operate in themanner set forth.

6. In a rotary engine, two concentric cylinders each having twosegmental chambers in its walls, passages leading from each end of eachsegmental chamber to the cylinder, rotary gates fitted in boresintersecting said passage-ways two circular chambers intersecting eachcylinder-chamber, rotary gates fitted in said circular chamberssteam-passages leading from the exterior to the said rotary gates,rotary plug-valves fitted in bores intercepting said passages leading tothe circular valves,arranged and combined as shown and described for thepurposes stated.

- 7. In a rotary engine, two concentric cylinders each having twosegmental chambers in its walls, passages leading from each end of eachsegmental chamber to the cylinder, rotary gates fitted in boresintersecting said passage-ways two circular chambers intersecting eachcylinder-chamber, rotary gates fitted in said circular chamberssteam-pas sages leading from the exterior to the said rotary gates,rotary plug-valves fitted in bores intercepting said passages leading tothe circular valves, rotatable hubs having radiallyextcnding pistonsfitted in the cylinders and means for operating all the rotary gates inconcert with the hubs, arranged and combined as shown and described forthe purposes stated.

8. In a rotary engine, a casing having two concentric cylinders, a mainshaft in concentric position with the two cylinders, a hub in eachcylinder fixed to said shaft and provided with pistons extendingradially therefrom, two circular chambers intersecting eachcylinder-chamber, a shaft in concentric position with each circularchamber, a rotary gate having concaves in its periphery in each circularchamber and connected at its end with the main shaft by means ofgear-wheels, two segmental chambers in the wall of each cylindercommunicating at each end with the cylinder-chamber, a rotary gatehaving eoncaves in its periphery fitted in a bore intersectingpassageways leading from the segmental chambers to the cylinder chamberfixed to shafts and connected therewith by means of gear-wheels on theirends and the wheels on the ends of the shafts extending through thecircular chambers, and means for conveying steam from the exterior intoone of the circular chambers, all arranged and combined to operate inthe manner set forth for the purposes stated.

9. In a rotary engine, two concentric cylinders, each having twosegmental chambers in its walls communicating with the cylinderchambers,a steam-supply pipe communicating with the cylinder-chambers, rotaryvalves in the passages leading from the supply-pipes to the cylinders,pipes connected with the supply-pipe and the segmental chambers andmeans for regulating the passage of steam to and from the cylinders andsegmental chambers shown and described to simultaneously introduceinitial steam into distinct chambers for the purposes stated.

10. A compound rotary engine comprising a case, two cylinders inconcentric position and each cylinder provided with two segmentalsteam-chambers in its wall, two circular chambers intersecting thechambers of. the cylinder, a main shaft in concentric position with thecylinders, a hub having radial pistons in each cylinder fixed to saidshaft, shafts extended through the circular chambers in parallelposition with the main shaft and a rotary gate having concaves in itsperiphery in each circular chamber and fixed to one of said shafts,steam passage-ways leading from the cylinder-chambers to the segmentalchambers, rotary gates having concaves in their peripheries in boresintersecting said passage-ways fixed to shafts, gear-wheels on the endsof each shaft, rotary valves fitted in bores in the case intersectingsteam passageways from the exterior of the case to the circular chambersand cylinder-chambers, each valve provided with an arm and connectedwith a lever, an induction pipe having branches communicating with thesegmental chambers and cylinders,valves in said branch pipes andexhaust-pipes, all arranged and combined to operate-in the manner setforth for the purposes stated.

v ALFRED XVATKINS. Witnesses:

REUBEN G. ORWIG, THOMAS G. ORWIG.

